In ServiceNow Discovery, which one of the following phases is the server RAM value discovered?

The ServiceNow Discovery process operates in four distinct, sequential phases: Scanning, Classification, Identification, and Exploration. Detailed hardware attributes, such as the server's RAM value, are collected during the Exploration phase. After a device has been classified (e.g., as a "Windows Server") and uniquely identified, Discovery launches specific exploration probes to gather in-depth information. The "Windows - RAM" probe, for example, is an exploration probe that queries the target system specifically for its total physical memory. This data is then used to populate the corresponding attribute on the Configuration Item (CI) record in the CMDB.

A. Port scan: The Port Scan (Scanning) phase only identifies active IP addresses and open ports on the network; it does not gather any device-specific attributes like RAM.
B. Classification: The Classification phase determines the type of device by running initial probes to gather basic information like the operating system, but not detailed hardware specifications.
C. Classification and Identification: These phases occur before Exploration. Classification determines the device type, and Identification finds a unique identifier to prevent duplicate CIs. Detailed attribute collection is not the purpose of these phases.

1. ServiceNow Product Documentation - Discovery Phases: "The fourth phase, Exploration, is the deep dive into the device. Discovery launches the additional probes that are appropriate for the device type to collect more detailed information, such as the applications that are running on the device, memory, storage, and any other information that is relevant to the CI type."

Source: ServiceNow Product Documentation, "Discovery phases," Doc ID: product/discovery/concept/cDiscoveryPhases.html

2. ServiceNow Product Documentation - Probes and Sensors: The documentation on probes confirms that specific probes for detailed hardware attributes are designated for the exploration phase. For example, the "Windows - RAM" probe is categorized as an Exploration probe.

Source: ServiceNow Product Documentation, "Probes and sensors," Doc ID: product/discovery/reference/rProbesAndSensors.html (This page describes the function of probes, and navigating to specific probes like "Windows - RAM" within an instance shows its phase is "Exploration").

3. ServiceNow Product Documentation - Discovery Classifiers: The classifier record (e.g., for Windows Server) defines which probes to trigger for each phase. The "Windows - RAM" probe is listed under the "Exploration" phase section of the classifier's trigger list.

Source: ServiceNow Product Documentation, "Create a Discovery classifier," Doc ID: product/discovery/task/tCreateADiscoveryClassifier.html (This document explains the structure of classifiers, including the "Trigger probes" related list where probes are assigned to phases).